The Man Who Failed to Yield

You never know what awaits you when you leave the house each day. Some of the more amazing events and their memories will linger in one's memory many years afterwards.

I was driving to work one afternoon. It just so happens that by sheer luck and timing that I was promoted to work as an inspector in an automobile factory. It's funny that they called it that because we made camshafts, crankshafts and valves for diesel engines. We even manufactured a crankshaft for John Deere tractors.

The pay was excellent, one of the very best in town. Even some 20 years later the wage back then remains exceptionally above what people make working for, say, Amazon today.

Right of way

Any of us who have experience driving a vehicle is aware that there are times when we must yield to another driver, both by law and to show common courtesy to other drivers.

Well, that day as I pulled up to the main highway from a side road, I had to yield to traffic travelling in both directions. The huge factory was right across the street.

I looked to my left and observed a motorcycle travelling at what I deemed to be a high rate of speed in the distance. As I looked to my right, a car was also speeding but was slowing and was going to attempt to turn left on to the side road where I sat idling in my high-performance Chevy Malibu.

The accident

As I listened to my music and waited for an opportunity to make a right turn onto the highway, the driver of the car attempted to make a left turn. Unfortunately, he did not see the motorcycle and failed to yield.

The action of the accident went into slow motion in my brain.

The motorbike slammed into the passenger side of the car, sending the rider over the top of the car, where he landed on the unforgiving pavement. He was not wearing a helmet.

As I looked on in utter amazement, my first reaction was that he was dead on the spot. Then, with a quickness, I jumped out of my car and ran to his aid. He was still breathing, alive.

His head was severely injured. A large gash poured crimson onto the road. His leg was also mangled, his clothes were in shreds, and road rash had turned his once young body into a maze of gravel, dirt, grime, grease and unusual patterns.

I immediately went to work providing First Aid.

After three weeks in the hospital the man was finally discharged. As far as I know, though he survived the accident, he failed to change his ways. He was also a man who failed to yield.

Yielding to God's call

God is ever calling people to be part of His great plan of salvation. Many reject the call, although their conscience bears witness that there is a God. Though many acknowledge Him as God, they nevertheless decide and otherwise prefer to wait and live their lives as they please until a later time. They live a sinful life.

Other people have no intention of believing in what they refer to as the fairy in the sky. I shudder when I hear or red those statements. Indeed, Jesus says: "But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken" (Matthew 12:36, NIV).

These people who refuse to yield to God do not know when they will be called to account upon death.

Are you listening?

Life is fast-paced. There is extensive competition in the world to distract us from the call of God. Our 24-hour day passes quickly into a week, a month, a year, a decade.

Are you delaying God's call? If so, why? If you have yielded to God's call, why are you not serving Him and doing His will? Don't you know that He uses unqualified people like us for His glory and our reward both now and in heaven?

"For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 5:2, NIV).

Again, you never know what awaits you when you leave the house each day. You may be the man or woman who refuses to yield. Don't be that person. Yield to God's call on your life.